Apparently, if you possess two X chromosomes, you are required to favour unrestricted abortion in Canada or risk being a traitor to your own sex.

Strangely enough, it is usually males who are portrayed as conspiring to limit access to abortion. When we see some women are willing to re-examine the evidence on this topic, the response is outrage.

Women are not actually a cohesive block of identical opinions. I know many women who agree with me that Canada’s lack of any kind of regulation on abortion is appalling. As has been pointed out many times recently, Canada is the only democratic country not to have any laws about this issue, leaving a fetus completely vulnerable until the moment it slides out of the birth canal.

Why should Status of Women Minister Rona Ambrose be vilified for representing what her constituents believe, and for voting to look at ways to correct this enormous gap in our laws? She is a shining example to women and men of following one’s conscience.

Harma-Mae Smit, Edmonton

Play exposes global sex trade

On Thursday night I attended a production at Catalyst Theatre called She Has a Name. It takes a sobering look at how young children are used for sex in Thailand by wealthy businessmen from Canada and other countries.

The drama, acting and effects were well done. It caused me to wonder what I could do about this global epidemic of abuse of children, women and the disenfranchised.

It is easy to shake my head, feel disgust and put the issue behind me. But we need to do what we can, where we are right now.

I encourage others to see this production, which ends Sunday, and look for ways to shed light on this horrific, dark side of human behaviour.

Muhammad Mavani refers to the Muslims who have peacefully protested against the video on YouTube. Unfortunately, there are too many Muslims overseas who have protested with violence and not enough peaceful Muslims who have condemned that violence.

Mavani wrongly dismisses a gross advertising poster of Jesus as female by saying “the sanctity of the Prophet Muhammad has even higher value to Muslims,” as if my feelings are less hurt when Jesus is insulted.

People who condemn the Muhammad video must first condemn across the Muslim world the desecration of Christian churches and Jesus, the persecution of Coptic Christians, widespread anti-Semitism in the media and Holocaust denial, and sectarian violence between Muslims.

Justice does not allow double standards because Muslims have no special right to be offended.

The video is inflammatory and terrible, but I support free speech. The violence the film has aroused is inexcusable and unjustified.

I accept Melanie Nelson’s view that criticism is free speech. But when a film is used to criticize the Prophet Muhammad, who is revered by millions across the globe, should the film not at least be based on facts instead of fraud and deceit?

Islamophobia is the essence of Nelson’s letter. Ali M. Syed, a moderate Muslim, is using free speech to plead for mutual respect, and Nelson is angered by this.

Islamophobia is not a figment of our imaginations or a ploy by Muslims to gain pity. It is real.

Nelson urges moderate Muslims to denounce the violence sparked by this latest attempt to defame the Prophet. If she just Googled this, she would see that leaders such as Mirza Masroor Ahmed from the Ahamdiyya Muslim Organization, local and foreign Muslim journalists, and even the controversial leader of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have denounced this violence.

The problem is the Islamophobia that prevails in Western media will never capture these images or record those voices of condemnation because that would just put an end to this hype.

Islamophobia fuels the fire of ignorance and allows derogatory, defamatory films such as Innocence of Muslims to be passed off as a symbol of Western free speech.

Muslims who love their Prophet should follow his example and behave with patience and reserve. And people who value free speech should give Muslims the equal right to peacefully condemn this film and not write it off as a bid for pity.

Humda Malik, Edmonton

A squeezed generation

The Journal printed an article on Sept. 22 about helping seniors stay in their own homes longer and private agencies that sell goods and services for seniors.

It concluded that “adult children are setting up their services and covering the cost for their parents.”

Some of these services can cost $30 an hour. I don’t earn $30 an hour. I want to pay for the services my parents need to stay in their home, but I would need a loan to do this.

My husband and I paid for our son’s post-secondary education so he would not begin his independent life in debt.

Our generation is criticized for not saving enough for retirement. We pay close to 30 per cent of our wages on taxes. At some point these taxes need to cover the cost of post-secondary education for the young and home care for seniors.

Working people like myself can’t do it all while saving for our own future and paying off debt.

I was interested in the letter from Ruth Jordan, a Canadian citizen being “hunted down” by the Internal Revenue Service, as I also have been asked to send money to Uncle Sam.

She should consider herself “lucky.” I was told I owed $7,500, which has risen to $8,000 with various penalties and interest added on.

That my income is derived from pensions originating in Canada plus a part-time job doesn’t seem to matter. The IRS insists the money owed is from earnings in the U.S. in 2010.

I have been fighting this for almost a year now aided by an accountant in Salt Lake City. My problem seems to be that I do file U.S. tax forms each year even though I have no income there. I would advise anyone holding U.S. citizenship and living here to not file unless you do derive income from U.S. sources.

A few weeks ago, friends visiting from the U.S. suggested I ask for a W2 form, which supposedly shows the source of your income and the IRS uses to determine taxes owed.

Unlike Jordan, I did reach a lady by phone who checked my file and told me, “you don’t owe anything.” She promised to send me something confirming this over a month ago. I’m still waiting.

Recently I got another letter from the IRS telling me they would decide on my case and let me know within 45 days.

The suspense is killing me.

Earle Nault, Spruce Grove

B.C. transplant finds new home

I grew up in a small town in the interior of British Columbia. After 24 years in B.C., I came to Alberta for work … and money.

By happenstance I live in an apartment that backs onto the Alberta legislature.I used to think, “B.C. for life!” But after just three years in Alberta, I’m starting to think this is home.

Alberta has changed my life. I make a good living, I have a secure job (if I lose it, businesses everywhere are hiring). Now when I look out my window at the legislature, I see the beauty of the building, the area and everything it means. I see hope, opportunity and pride.

Thank you Alberta and a happy 100 years to the legislature! If my next three years are anything like my first three, this will be home forever … if it isn’t already.

Ryan Ruffell, Edmonton

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Saturday letters: Ambrose should be applauded for following her conscience

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